I wish there was a way to pool all the compassion and good intentions of tourists and local residents and put it into a giant breakfast feeding program that would draw children to school in the morning, because there would always be food waiting for them

The problem with the late night charity with food or money is that it creates a dependence on the tourists for sustanence. It even goes as far as supporting truancy from school because the parents would rather have their children bringing home money and half eaten, restaraunt left-overs, then to go to school.

I know this to be true because we have put children in school. Paid all the expenses for uniforms, shoes, books, registration, the whole nine yards and after a few weeks of attendance the parents jerk them out to suppliment their income by begging. If begging didn’t work and all the poor kids could eat one meal a day at school, this culture would start to change.

We have a handful of kids in our breakfast feeding program in 3 different schools and I can tell you one thing for sure. These kids are there every day eating AND getting an education.

I must be one of the luckiest guys alive. I get to help people, help other people.

Making friendships all over Peru and seeing the lives of families, especially children, change as a result of the hundreds of Voluntoursists that have joined me, has to be one of the most gratifying things ever.

This is a “shout-out” to all of you who cared enough to come. If you haven’t been here yet, let’s talk.